Retractable tow rope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11712933-B2
Application number	US-202016740268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2020
Priority date	Jan 10, 2020
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a retractable tow rope system. The retractable tow rope system includes a tow rope. The tow rope has a first end, a second end, a notch in between the first end and the second end, and an anchoring device. The anchoring device is positioned at the first end of the top rope and configured to couple with an object. The retractable tow rope system includes a reel apparatus. The reel apparatus is coupled to the second end of the tow rope and has a rope hook. The rope hook is configured to latch onto or unlatch from the notch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retractable tow rope system for a vehicle, comprising:
a tow rope configured to be coupled to a tow hitch of the vehicle, the tow rope having a first end, a second end, a notch in between the first end and the second end, and an anchoring device positioned at the first end of the tow rope and configured to couple with an object;
a reel apparatus coupled to the second end of the tow rope and having a rope hook that is configured to latch onto or unlatch from the notch; and
a pulley configured to redirect a direction of the tow rope through a center of a rear of the vehicle to the coupled object via the tow hitch and from the reel apparatus.

2. The retractable tow rope system of claim 1 , wherein the rope hook is configured to latch onto the notch and secure the tow rope such that a first portion of the tow rope is in a released position and a second portion of the tow rope is in a retracted position within the reel apparatus.

3. The retractable tow rope system of claim 2 , wherein the reel apparatus is configured to release or retract the tow rope when the rope hook is unlatched from the notch.

4. The retractable tow rope system of claim 1 , wherein the notch includes a plurality of notches, wherein the plurality of notches are positioned or spaced apart along a length of the tow rope.

5. The retractable tow rope system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of notches are positioned or spaced apart an equidistant along the length of the tow rope.

6. The retractable tow rope system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of notches include a first notch, a second notch and a third notch, wherein a first length of tow rope is in between the first notch and the second notch and a second length of tow rope is between the second notch and the third notch, wherein the first length of tow rope is greater than the second length of tow rope.

7. The retractable tow rope system of claim 1 ,
wherein the reel apparatus is positioned near a wheel or an exhaust of the vehicle.

8. A retractable tow rope system for a vehicle, comprising:
a tow rope having a first end, a second end, a plurality of notches in between the first end and the second end, and an anchoring device positioned at the first end of the tow rope and configured to couple with an object;
a reel apparatus coupled to the second end of the tow rope and having an attachment device that is configured to couple with one of the plurality of notches; and
a pulley configured redirect a direction of the tow rope through a center of a rear of the vehicle to the coupled object via a tow hitch and from the reel apparatus.

9. The retractable tow rope system of claim 8 , wherein the attachment device is configured to latch onto a notch of the plurality of notches and secure the tow rope such that a first portion of the tow rope is in a released position and a second portion of the tow rope is in a retracted position within the reel apparatus.

10. The retractable tow rope system of claim 9 , wherein the attachment device is a rope hook, wherein the reel apparatus is configured to release or retract the tow rope when the rope hook is unlatched from the notch.

11. The retractable tow rope system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of notches are positioned or spaced apart along a longitudinal length of the tow rope.

12. The retractable tow rope system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of notches are positioned or spaced apart an equidistant along the longitudinal length of the tow rope.

13. The retractable tow rope system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of notches include a first notch, a second notch and a third notch, wherein a first length of tow rope is between the first notch and a second length of tow rope is between the second notch and the third notch, wherein the first length of tow rope is greater than the second length of tow rope.

14. The retractable tow rope system of claim 8 , wherein, the tow rope is coupled to the tow hitch of the vehicle.

15. The retractable tow rope system of claim 8 ,
wherein the reel apparatus is positioned near a wheel of the vehicle.

16. A retractable tow rope system for a vehicle, comprising:
a tow rope having a first end, a second end, a plurality of notches in between the first end and the second end, and an anchoring device positioned at the first end of the tow rope and configured to couple with an object;
a reel apparatus positioned near a wheel of the vehicle and coupled to the second end of the tow rope, the reel apparatus having an attachment device that is configured to couple with one of the plurality of notches; and
a pulley configured redirect a direction of the tow rope through a center of a rear of the vehicle to the coupled object via the tow hitch and from the reel apparatus.

17. The retractable tow rope system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of notches are positioned or spaced apart along a longitudinal length of the tow rope.

18. The retractable tow rope system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of notches include a first notch, a second notch and a third notch, wherein a first length of tow rope is between the first notch and a second length of tow rope is between the second notch and the third notch, wherein the first length of tow rope is greater than the second length of tow rope.

19. The retractable tow rope system of claim 18 , wherein the tow rope is coupled to a tow hitch of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Boraggina Alexander T

Classifications

• B60D1/185 Primary

  comprising a cable or chain winding device (B60D1/38 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60D1/187

  characterised by the connection to the towing vehicle or to the trailer · CPC title